Entry guide for rolling mills

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to an entry guide for a rolling mill and, more particularly, to such guides used in connection with a tandem cold strip reduction mill. The disclosed guide comprises a pair of spaced-apart lower frames carried by parallel guide rods wherein the frames are movable transversely along the rods towards and away from the edges of the strip. The frame rotatably carries a lower set of spaced-apart transversely extending horizontal parallel rollers which are so mounted that the frames are allowed to move relative to the horizontal rollers. The frames also carry vertically arranged opposed strip side guiding rolls which are interspaced between the horizontal rollers. These rolls are mounted so as to move with the frames. An upper frame is provided for rotatably supporting an upper set of spaced-apart horizontal rollers, one for each roller of the lower set, which are adapted to be brought into a working relationship with the lower horizontal rollers in a manner that one roller of each cooperative pair assumes an offset relationship with the other roller of the same cooperative pair. It is customary in operating tandem cold rolling mills for ferrous and non-ferrous metals to provide various forms of entry guides or stickers that assist in entering the leading end of the strip into the bite of the mill. The entry guides also guide the strip during feeding thereof in addition to serving to flatten the strip as it enters into the mill. The guide for the first stand of a tandem cold mill, since it receives the strip as immediately unwound from a coil, is usually maintained in contact with the strip during the entire length of the coil due to the non-flatness of the strip; whereas the guides for the other succeeding stands are usually opened up after the leading end is fed into the stand. Accordingly, it has been the practice to provide a strip entry guide and particularly for the first stand of a tandem cold strip mill comprising spaced-apart sets of upper and lower horizontal, non-driven rollers wherein the rollers of each set are arranged in the same vertical plane. Between the horizontal set there is usually provided vertical non-driven guide rollers for restraining and guiding the opposite edges of the strip passing to the mill. The horizontal rollers are brought into engagement with the strip, usually after the leading end had entered the mill, for the purpose of flattening the strip by a pinching action. It was found, however, that not only was this arrangement ineffective to properly flatten the strip, but that the pinching action may create a marking on the strip which was highly objectionable. As noted previously, it is customary to maintain the rollers in engagement with the strip during the uncoiling of the entire coil so that the entire length of the strip may be marked.

United States Patent [191 Shumaker [45 Apr. 17,1973

[ 1 ENTRY GUIDE FOR ROLLING IVIILLS Charles Storer Shumaker, Glenshaw, Pa.

[75] lnventor:

[73] Assignee: United Engineering and Foundry Company, Pittsburgh, Pa.

221 Filed: Nov. 12,1970

21 App1.No.: 88,789

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Primary ExaminerRichard J. Herbst Attorneyl-lenry C. Westin [5 7 ABSTRACT 12/ 1964 Great Britain ..72/250 relative to the horizontal rollers. The frames also carry vertically arranged opposed strip side guiding rolls which are interspaced between the horizontal rollers. These rolls are mounted so as to move with the frames. An upper frame is provided for rotatably supporting an upper set of spaced-apart horizontal rollers, one for each roller of the lower set, which are adapted to be brought into a working relationship with the lower horizontal rollers in a manner that one roller of each cooperative pair assumes an offset relationship with the other roller of the same cooperative pair.

It is customary in operating tandem cold rolling mills for ferrous and non-ferrous metals to provide various forms of entry guides or stickers that assist in entering the leading end of the strip into the bite of the mill. The entry guides also guide the strip during feeding thereof in addition to serving to flatten the strip as it enters into the mill. The guide for the first standof a tandem cold mill, since it receives the strip as imrnediately unwound from a coil, is usually maintained in contact with the stop durlng the entlre ength of the coil due to the non-flatness of the strip; whereas the guides for the other succeeding stands are usually opened up after the leading end is fed into the stand.

Accordingly, it has been the practice to provide a strip entry guide and particularly for the first stand of a tandem cold strip mill comprising spaced-apart sets of rollers upper and lower horizontal, non-driven wherein the rollers of each set are arranged in the same vertical plane. Between the horizontal set there is usually provided vertical non-driven guide rollers for restraining and guiding the opposite edges of the strip passing to the mill. The horizontal rollers are brought into engagement with the strip, usually after the leading end had entered the mill, for the purpose of flattening the strip by a pinching action. It was found, however, that not only was this arrangement ineffective to properly flatten the strip, but that the pinching action may create a marking on the strip which was highly objectionable. As noted previously, it is customary to maintain the rollers in engagement with the strip during the uncoiling of the entire coil so that the entire length of the strip may be marked.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures United States Patent 1 [111 3,727,446 Shumaker [45] Apr. 17, 1973 PATENTH] APR 1 71975 SHEET 1 BF 2 l/Vl/E/VTOR CHARLLZ; 5. Sf/UMAKER ATTORNEY.

PATENTEUAFR 1 mm 3,727, 446

SHEET 2 BF 2 By 0/4945 $.5/ll/MA/(ER ATTORNEY.

ENTRY GUIDE FOR ROLLING MILLS It is customary in operating tandem cold rolling mills for ferrous and non-ferrous metals to provide various forms of entry guides or stickers that assist in entering the leading end of the strip into the bite of the mill. The entry guides also guide the strip during feeding thereof in addition to serving to flatten the strip as it enters into the mill. The guide for the first stand of a tandem cold mill, since it receives the strip as immediately unwound from a coil, is usually maintained in contact with the strip during the entire length of the coil due to the nonflatness of the strip; whereas the guides for the other succeeding stands are usually opened up after the leading end is fed into the stand.

Accordingly, it has been the practice to provide a strip entry guide and particularly for the firststand of a tandem cold strip mill comprising spaced-apart sets of upper and lower horizontal, non-driven rollers wherein the rollers of each set are arranged in the same vertical plane. Between the horizontal set there is usually provided vertical non-driven guide rollers for restraining and guiding the opposite edges of the strip passing to the mill. The horizontal rollers are brought into engagement with the strip, usually after the leading end had entered the mill,'for the purpose of flattening the strip by a pinching action. It was found, however, that not only was this arrangement ineffective to properly flatten the strip, but that the pinching action may create a marking on the strip which was highly objectionable. As noted previously, it is customary to maintain the rollers in engagement with the strip during the uncoiling of the entire coil so that the entire length of the strip may be marked.

The present invention provides an improved strip entry guide adapted to avoid pinching of the strip in a manner that the strip is deflectedv around a number of rollers to obtain a significant amount of flattening.

More particularly, the present invention provides an entry guide for a rolling mill or similar device comprising a pair of spaced-apart lower horizontal rollers adapted to cooperate with a like number of upper horizontal rollers, the rollers being offset in the manner to deflect the strip around a portion of the rollers when the rollers are brought into cooperative working relationship to flatten the strip passing into the mill or similar processing apparatus.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a strip entry guide for rolling mills or similar devices having a pair of spaced-apart lower frames for rotatably supporting a first setof spaced-apart horizontal rollers arranged transversely of the path of travel of the strip, means for adjusting the lower frames transversely relative to each other and means for mounting the horizontal rollers to allow relative movement of the frames with respect to the first set of horizontal rollers, spaced-apart vertical rollers mounted on each lower frame between the horizontal rollers and attached to the lower frames so that they move transversely therewith, an upper frame for rotatably carrying a second set of spaced-apart horizontal rollers equal in number to the rollers of said first set, means for bringing the upper set of horizontal rollers into an operative relationship with the lower set of horizontal rollers and means for causing one of the rollers of each cooperative pair to assume an offset relationship with the other roller of the same cooperative pair.

These objects, as well as other novel features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated when the following specification is read along with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a strip entry guide incorporating the features of the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is a composite plan and partial sectional view of the entry guide shown in FIG. 1.

As noted previously, the invention relates to a strip entry guide for use in a tandem cold reduction rolling mill or like device, in which connection there is illustrated in the figures, particularly FIG. 2, a portion of the vertical opposed housings 11 and 12 of a rolling mill, it being understood for brevitys sake that the other customary elements that make up the rolling have not been shown since such is not necessary to understand the invention. It is important to appreciate,

however, that between the housings 11 and 12 an entry guide 13 is secured and that this will constitute the entry side of the mill so that the strip will pass from an uncoiling mechanism, not shown, in a direction from the left to right as designated by the arrows in FIGS. 1 and 2. To better relate the invention to the rolling mill, in FIG. 1 the work rolls l4 and 15 together with their backup rolls 16 and 17 have been illustrated.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be observed that the lower portion of the guide is made up of two spaced-apart frames 18 and 19 which are mounted on a pair of guide rods 21 and 22 extending between and carried by the housings l1 and 12. These guide rods are provided with tubular liners 23 which allow the frames 18 and 19 to move transversely towards and away from the edges of the strip passing to the work rolls 14 and 15. For the purpose of thus moving the frames, an electrical motor 24 is provided which is connected to a gearreduction unit 25 and which by chains 26 and 27 is connected to spaced-apart shafts 28 and 29, which run in the same direction as the guide rods 21 and 22. The shafts 28 and 29 have left and right-hand threads which mesh with the threads of non-rotating nuts 30 so that, I

upon operation of the motor 24, the guide frames are brought towards and away from each other in unison.

In still referring to the lower frames 18 and 19 of the guide 13, towards the upper portion thereof arranged to support the lower surface of the strip they are provided with three spaced-apart non-driven, but freely rotatable horizontal rollers 31, 32 and 33. These rollers are received and supported by similar base members 34 which are mounted on the frames 18 and 19 in a manner that allows the frames to slide relative to the base members 34 that rotatably support the rollers 31, 32 and 33. The rollers, as shown in FIG. 2, extend between the housings 11 and 12 and have a length sufficient to support the maximum width strip passing to the mill. For each frame, spaced between the rollers 31, 32 and 33, are four freely rotatable, but non-driven, vertical rolls 35, 36, 37 and 38 which are supported by the frames 18 and l9'and connected to them so that they move transversely upon the movement of the'frames. The vertical rolls 35 38 of each frame, of course, are spaced directly across from each other and between them there are arranged narrow supports 39, 40, 41 and 42 having their top surface in line with the top surfaces of the rollers 31 33 for supporting the strip between the rollers 31 33. The supports 39 41 are mounted on the frames 18 and 19 adjacent to the vertical' rolls 35 38 and move with the frames on the traverse movement thereof.

In referring now to the upper portion of the guide 13, it is made up of a frame 43 which is adapted to move vertically in a vertical plate 44 that is secured to the housings 11 and 12, the plate 43 having guide liners 45 secured to it which slides against the plate 44, as best shown in FIG. 2. The frame 43 has a cross-structure 46 to which there is secured at its top the lower end of a piston rod of a piston cylinder assembly 47 The piston cylinder assembly is likewise supported on the plate 44 and adapted to move the frame 43 in a vertical direction in the guides 45. The cross structure 46 is adapted to support an upper set of non-driven, but freely rotatable, horizontally spaced-apart rollers, for which purpose there are provided blocks 47 which are arranged with respect to the lower rollers so that the upper rollers 48, 49 and 51 are offset with respect to the lower rollers 31-33, as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in the drawings, and particularly FIG. 1, when the rollers are in their operative position, there is a gap between the rollers. This gap can be determined by several well-known devices, such as an adjustable stop or an adjustment of the length of the piston cylinder assembly 47. The amount of the offset will vary depending on the characteristics of the strip and for a given mill may be adjustable to provide the best flattening for the various types of strip to be rolled. The illustrated coiled into the mill,- the cylinder 47 is operated to lift the rollers 48, 49 and 51 away from the lower rollers 31, 32 and 33. The motor 24 is operated to space the vertical rolls with reference to the particular width of strip to be uncoiled so that the vertical rolls will be in position to engage the edges thereof and assist in maintaining the strip in the proper relationship transversely of the mill. When the front end of the strip is brought to the guide 13, the cylinder 47 is operated to bring the top horizontal rollers 48, 49 and 51 into a working relationship with the lower horizontal rollers 31, 32 and 33 so that the strip, as fed in, although it may be unflat by reason of its being uncoiled from the coil, or for other reasons, will be worked at a point below its yield point around the arcuate contact formed by the offset sets of rollers and fed into the mill in a relatively flat condition. As noted previously, if the entry guide is mounted before the first stand of a tandem reduction mill, the rollers thereof will be left in contact with the strip during the entire operation, but should it be the guide associated with one of the succeeding stands, the cylinder 47 will be operated to lift the upper roller set after the leading end of the strip has been fed to the work rolls.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, 1 have explained the principle and operation of the invention and have illustrated and described what I consider to represent the best embodiment thereof.-

1 claim:

1. In a strip guiding apparatus comprising a first frame arranged below a path of travel of a strip,

a pair of spaced-apart lower horizontal rollers rotatably supported in said first frame in a common plane,

a second frame arranged above said path of travel of said strip,

a pair of spaced-apart upper horizontal rollers rotatably carried by said second frame in a common plane, each adapted to cooperate with a dif ferent opposed lower roller,

means for securing either the lower or upper rollers of each cooperative pair in an offset relationship with respect to each other in a plane parallel to the path of travel of said strip, such offset being characterized with respect to each cooperative pair by one of the cooperative rollers overlapping the other cooperative roller by an appreciable part of the diameter of one of the rollers,

the relationship of the cooperative pairs of rollers being such as to cause the strip to encircle a portion of at least one of the rollers of each cooperative pair without pinching the strip between the cooperative pairs of rollers to thereby flatten the strip as it passes through said guiding apparatus,

and

vertical guide rollers rotatably supported by said first frame and arranged on each side of the strip and in the space between the two pairs of cooperative pairs of upper and lower rollers.

2. In a strip guiding apparatus according to claim 1, including means for rotatably supporting said vertical rollers on the entry and delivery sides of said first frame.

3. In a strip guiding apparatus for entering strip into a rolling mill or similar device comprising;

a pair of spaced-apart'lower frames for rotatably sup porting a first set of spacedapart horizontal rollers arranged transversely of the path of travel of the strip and in a common plane,

means for adjusting the lower frames transversely relative to each other and means for mounting the horizontal rollers to allow relative movement of the frames with respect to the first set of horizontal rollers,

an upper frame for rotatably supporting a second set i of spaced-apart horizontal rollers equal in number to the rollers of said first set arranged transversely of the path of travel of the strip and in a common plane,

' means for bringing each of the upper horizontal rol-,

lers into an operative relationship with a different one of the lower horizontal rollers to form cooperative pairs,

means for causing one of the rollers of each cooperative pair to assume an offset relationship with the other roller of the same cooperative pair in a plane parallel to the path of travel of said strip, such off set being characterized with respect to each cooperative pair by one of the cooperative rollers overlapping the other cooperative roller by an appreciable part of the diameter of one of the rollers, and

spaced-apart vertical rollers mounted on each lower frame in the space between each cooperative pair of horizontal rollers and carried by the lower frames so that they move transversely therewith. 

1. In a strip guiding apparatus comprising a first frame arranged below a path of travel of a strip, a pair of spaced-apart lower horizontal rollers rotatably supported in said first frame in a common plane, a second frame arranged above said path of travel of said strip, a pair of spaced-apart upper horizontal rollers rotatably carried by said second frame in a common plane, each adapted to cooperate with a different opposed lower roller, means for securing either the lower or upper rollers of each cooperative pair in an offset relationship with respect to each other in a plane parallel to the path of travel of said strip, such offset being characterized with respect to each cooperative pair by one of the cooperative rollers overlapping the other cooperative roller by an appreciable part of the diameter of one of the rollers, the relationship of the cooperative pairs of rollers being such as to cause the strip to encircle a portion of at least one of the rollers of each cooperative pair without pinching the strip between the cooperative pairs of rollers to thereby flatten the strip as it passes through said guiding apparatus, and vertical guide rollers rotatably supported by said first frame and arranged on each side of the strip and in the space between the two pairs of cooperative pairs of upper and lower rollers.
 2. In a strip guiding apparatus according to claim 1, including means for rotatably supporting said vertical rollers on the entry and delivery sides of said first frame.
 3. In a strip guiding apparatus for entering strip into a rolling mill or similar device comprising; a pair of spaced-apart lower frames for rotatably supporting a first set of spaced-apart horizontal rollers arranged transversely of the path of travel of the strip and in a common plane, means for adjusting the lower frames transversely relative to each other and means for mounting the horizontal rollers to allow relative movement of the frames with respect to the first set of horizontal rollers, an upper frame for rotatably supporting a second set of spaced-apart horizontaL rollers equal in number to the rollers of said first set arranged transversely of the path of travel of the strip and in a common plane, means for bringing each of the upper horizontal rollers into an operative relationship with a different one of the lower horizontal rollers to form cooperative pairs, means for causing one of the rollers of each cooperative pair to assume an offset relationship with the other roller of the same cooperative pair in a plane parallel to the path of travel of said strip, such offset being characterized with respect to each cooperative pair by one of the cooperative rollers overlapping the other cooperative roller by an appreciable part of the diameter of one of the rollers, and spaced-apart vertical rollers mounted on each lower frame in the space between each cooperative pair of horizontal rollers and carried by the lower frames so that they move transversely therewith. 